Fold flat stow in floor seat assembly with collapsible bolsters

ABSTRACT

A seat assembly for use in an automotive vehicle comprising a seat cushion and a eat back pivotally coupled to the seat cushion for movement between a generally upright seating position and a fold flat position resting against the seat cushion. A side bolster panel is pivotally coupled to lateral opposing sides of each of the seat cushion and seat back and operable between a flexed position facing the toward the center of the seat cushion and the seat back and a relaxed position generally flush with the seat cushion and the seat back. A cam mechanism is operatively coupled to the each side bolster panel for automatically releasing the side bolster panels from the flexed position to the relaxed position in response to pivotal movement of the seat back from the seating position to the fold flat position to provide a low profile folded seat assembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The subject invention relates to a seat assembly which is folded andstowed within the floor of a vehicle, and more particularly, to a seatassembly having automatically collapsible bolsters and a stowableheadrest.

2. Description of the Related Art

Seat assemblies within an automotive vehicle include a seat cushion anda seat back, often pivotally coupled to the seat cushion. It is commonlyknown to provide a seat assembly wherein the seat back is pivotal froman upright seating position for supporting an occupant in the seat to afolded flat position against the seat cushion for stowage. It is alsoknown to provide a tumble seat assembly wherein the seat cushion pivotsabout the floor of the vehicle with the seat back in the folded flatposition to provide addition cargo storage within the compartment of thevehicle.

The seat cushion and seat back of an automotive seat assembly typicallycomprise a frame assembly for supporting a contoured cellular foam padencased by a trim cover. The seat cushion and seat back often includeside bolsters provided by thick side areas of the foam pad or mechanicalmechanisms such as inflatable air bladders for providing the occupantwith side or lateral support when seated in the seat assembly. However,these side bolsters create a thick seat profile and complicate theability of the seat back to be pivoted to the fold flat positionrelative to the seat cushion.

Therefore, it is desirable to provide a seat assembly having sidebolsters in either or both of the seat back and seat cushion whichmaintain a thin seat profile in both the folded flat position and thetumbled position for stowage within a bin in the floor of the vehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a seatassembly for use in an automotive vehicle comprising a seat cushion anda seat back pivotally coupled to the seat cushion for movement between agenerally upright seating position and a fold flat position restingagainst the seat cushion. A side bolster panel is pivotally coupled tolateral opposing sides of at least one of the seat cushion and seat backand operable between a flexed position facing toward the center of theseat cushion and the seat back and a relaxed position generally flushwith the seat cushion and the seat back. A cam mechanism is operativelycoupled to the side bolster panel for automatically releasing the sidebolster panel from the flexed position to the relaxed position inresponse to pivotal movement of the seat back from the seating positionto the fold flat position to provide a low profile folded seat assembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as thesame becomes better understood by reference to the following detaileddescription when considered in connection with the accompanying drawingswherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the seat assembly according to thesubject invention in a seating position;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the seat assembly in a fold flatposition;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the seat assembly in a tumbled position;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the seat assembly in the tumbledposition and a bin in the vehicle floor with the cover in the openposition;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the seat assembly in a stowed positionwithin the bin and the cover in the closed position;

FIG. 6 is a side sectional view of the seat assembly in the stowedposition;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the seat back showing a pivotal sidebolster and cam mechanism;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the seat cushion showing a pivotal sidebolster and a cam mechanism;

FIG. 9 is a side view of a cam mechanism for actuating the side bolsterof the seat cushion; and

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a headrest assembly pivotally coupledto the seat back.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the Figures, a seat assembly for use in an automotivevehicle is generally shown at 10 in FIG. 1. The seat assembly 10includes a seat cushion 12 and a seat back 14 pivotally coupled to theseat cushion 12 by a recliner mechanism 16. The recliner mechanism 16provides selective pivotal adjustment of the seat back 14 relative tothe seat cushion 12 between a plurality of reclined seating positionsfor supporting an occupant within the seat, as shown in FIG. 1, and afold flat position pivoted forwardly against the seat cushion 12, asshown in FIG. 2.

The seat assembly 10 further includes a pair of front risers 18 having afirst end 20 pivotally coupled to each respective side adjacent thedistal end of the seat cushion 12 and a second opposite end 22 pivotallycoupled to a planar floor 24 of the vehicle. A pair of rear risers 26similarly have a first end 28 pivotally coupled to the respective sidesof the seat cushion 12 adjacent the seat back 14 and a second oppositeend 30 releasably connected to the vehicle floor 24. The front and rearrisers 18, 26 support the seat assembly 10 above the vehicle floor 24.The front risers 18 provide rotational movement of the seat assembly 10between the seating position and fold flat position, shown in FIGS. 1and 2, and a tumbled position with the seat assembly 10 rotated into astorage bin 32 recessed beneath the floor 24 of the vehicle, as shown inFIGS. 5 and 6.

The storage bin 32 is covered by a lid 34 pivotally connected to thefloor 24 for movement between an open position providing access to thebin 32, as shown in FIG. 4, and a closed position covering access to thebin 32, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 5 and 6. The lid 34 may include one ormore rigid panels 36 pivotally hinged together for providing access tovarious sections of the bin 32 as desired.

The seat assembly 10 also includes an armrest 38 pivotally connected toeach lateral side of the seat back 14 for pivotal movement between anextended use position generally parallel with the seat cushion 12, asshown in FIG. 1, and a retracted position aligned flush with the side ofthe seat back 14, as shown in FIG. 2.

A headrest assembly 40 is operatively coupled to the upper distal end ofthe seat back 14 and pivotal between a generally upright use positionelevated vertically above the seat back 14 for supporting the seatoccupant's head, as shown in FIG. 1, and a stowed positioned pivotedrearwardly and recessed within a cavity 42 formed in the back panel ofthe seat back 14, as shown in FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 7, the seat back 14 includes a rigid seat back frame44 for supporting a contoured cellular foam pad 46 encased in a trimcover 48, such as cloth, leather or vinyl. A semi-rigid side bolsterpanel 50 is hingedly connected to each opposite lateral side of therigid frame 44. Each bolster panel 50 is pivotal about its longitudinalaxis between a flexed position pivoted inwardly toward the center of theseat back 14 and a relaxed position spread laterally flat and generallyflush with the seat back 14. The bolster panels 50 are bias by a spring,or the like, to the relaxed position.

A cam mechanism 52 is also pivotally coupled to each lateral side of therigid frame 44 behind each bolster panel 50 and generally midway betweenthe opposite ends of the panel 50. The cam mechanism 52 includes a post54 pivotally connected to the side of the frame 44 and projectinglaterally therefrom and a cam lobe 56 extending from the post 54 forengagement with the side bolster panel 50. The armrest 38 is fixedlysecured to the post 54 for pivoting the cam lobe 56 between an actuatedposition pressing the side bolster panel 50 to the flexed position withthe armrest 38 in the extended use position and a released positiondisengaged from the side bolster panel 50 allowing it to return to therelaxed position when the armrest 38 is pivoted to the retractedposition.

Referring to FIG. 8, the seat cushion 12 similarly includes a rigid seatcushion frame 58 for supporting a contoured cellular foam pad 60 encasedin a trim cover 62, such as cloth, leather or vinyl. A semi-rigid sidebolster panel 64 is hingedly connected to each opposite lateral side ofthe rigid frame 58. Each bolster panel 64 is pivotal about itslongitudinal axis between a flexed position pivoted inwardly toward thecenter of the seat cushion 12 and a relaxed position spread laterallyflat and generally flush with the seat cushion 12. The bolster panels 64are bias by a spring, or the like, to the relaxed position.

A cam mechanism 66 is also pivotally coupled to each lateral side of therigid frame 58 behind each bolster panel 64 and generally midway betweenthe opposite ends of the panel 64. The cam mechanism 66 includes a post68 pivotally connected to the side of the frame 58 and projectinglaterally therefrom and a cam lobe 70 extending from the post 68 forengagement with the side bolster panel 64. Referring to FIG. 9, apush-pull cable 72 is connected between a lever 74 projecting from thecam post 68 and the recliner mechanism 16 on the seat back 14. Anarcuate cable guide 76 winds the cable 72 about the recliner 16. Whenthe seat assembly 10 is in the seating position, the cam lobe 70 ispressed against the bolster panel 64 for maintaining the bolster panelin the flexed position. When the seat assembly is rotate from theseating position to the fold flat position, the cable 72 winds about thecable guide 76 and pulls the lever 74 to rotate the cam lobe 70 anddisengage the cam lobe 70 from contact with the bolster panel 64, thusallowing the bolster panel-64 to pivot to the relaxed position.

It should be appreciated that a cable mechanism and arrangement similarto that shown in FIG. 8 for the seat cushion 12 may be attached betweenthe recliner mechanism 16 and the post 54 of cam mechanism 52 to rotatethe cam lobe 56 and disengage the cam lobe 56 from contact with thebolster panel 50 to allow the bolster panel 50 to automatically pivot tothe relaxed position in response to pivotal movement of the seat back 14between the upright seating position to the fold flat position.

Referring to FIG. 10, the headrest assembly 40 further includes a pairof guide posts 78 supporting a foam pad 80 above the seat back 14 in theupright use position. The guide posts 78 are pivotally coupled to a tube82 rotatably journaled to the top of the seat back frame 44 by a bearingsleeve 84. A coil spring 86 is connected between the seat back frame 44and the rotatable tube 82 for biasing the headrest 40 to the stowedposition. A disc recliner clutch 88 is supported by the seat back frame44 and operatively coupled to the tube 82 for release the headrest 40for pivotal movement from the upright use position to the stowedposition. A cable 90 is connected between the disc recliner clutch 88and the recliner mechanism 16. When the seat back 14 is pivoted from theupright seating position to the fold flat position, the cable 90 pullsand releases the disc recliner clutch 88 whereby the spring 86automatically pivots the headrest 40 from the upright use position tothe stowed positioned recessed within the cavity 42 in the back of theseat back 14. When the seat back 14 is returned from the fold flatposition to the upright seating position, the headrest 40 may be pivotedto the use position and the cable 90 releases the disc recliner clutch88 to relock the headrest 40 in the use position.

In operation, to fold and tumble the seat assembly 10 to a storedposition recessed within the storage bin 32 beneath the floor 24, theseat back 14 is pivoted from the upright seating position to the foldflat position. The cam mechanisms 52, 66 simultaneously release the camlobes 56 from the actuated positions to the released position to allowthe bolster panels 50, 64 of each of the seat back 14 and seat cushion12, respectively, to be bias to the relaxed position. The seat back 14is thus folded relatively flat against the seat cushion 12 to provide alow profile seat assembly 10. Also, when the seat back 14 is pivoted tothe fold flat position, the headrest 40 is also automatically rotatedfrom the upright use position to the stowed position recessed within thecavity 42. The cover 34 may then be pivoted to the open positionproviding access to the storage bin 32. The seat assembly 10 is pivotedabout the front risers 18 from the fold flat position to the tumbledposition and then further about the second pivotal ends 22 of the frontrisers 18 into the storage bin 32 in an upside down configurationcompletely recessed within the storage bin 32. The cover 34 is thenpivoted to the closed position covering the bin 32 and seat assembly 10and providing a flat load floor 24 within the vehicle.

The invention has been described in an illustrative manner, and it is tobe understood that the terminology, which has been used, is intended tobe in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation.

Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possiblein light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood thatwithin the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practisedother than as specifically described.

1. A seat assembly for use in an automotive vehicle comprising: a seatcushion; a seat back pivotally coupled to the seat cushion for movementbetween a generally upright seating position and a fold flat positionresting against the seat cushion; a side bolster panel pivotally coupledto lateral opposing sides of at least one of said seat cushion and seatback and operable between a flexed position facing toward the center ofthe seat cushion and seat back and a relaxed position generally flushwith the seat cushion and seat back; and a cam mechanism operativelycoupled to the side bolster panel for automatically releasing the sidebolster panel from the flexed position to the relaxed position inresponse to pivotal movement of the seat back from the seating positionto the fold flat position to provide a low profile folded seat assembly.2. The seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the side bolster panel ispivotally coupled to lateral opposing sides of the seat back.
 3. Theseat assembly of claim 2 wherein the seat back includes a rigid seatback frame.
 4. The seat assembly of claim 3 wherein the side bolsterpanel is hingedly connected to each opposite lateral side of the rigidseat back frame.
 5. The seat assembly of claim 4 wherein the cammechanism is pivotally coupled to each lateral side of the rigid seatback frame behind each side bolster panel midway between opposite endsof the side bolster panel.
 6. The seat assembly of claim 5 wherein thecam mechanism comprises a post pivotally connected to and laterallyprojecting from the rigid seat back frame, and a cam lobe extending fromthe post for engagement with the side bolster panel.
 7. The seatassembly of claim 6 including an arm rest pivotally connected to eachlateral side of the seat back for pivotal movement between an extendeduse position and a retrace position.
 8. The seat assembly of claim 7wherein the armrest is fixedly secured to the post for pivoting the camlobe between an actuated position pressing the side bolster panel to theflexed position with the armrest in the extended use position and areleased position disengaged from the side bolster panel when the armrest is in the retracted position.
 9. The seat assembly of claim 1including a recliner mechanism pivotally coupling the seat back and seatcushion.
 10. The seat assembly of claim 9 wherein the side bolster panelis pivotally coupled to lateral opposing sides of the seat cushion. 11.The seat assembly of claim 10 wherein the seat back includes a rigidseat cushion frame.
 12. The seat assembly of claim 11 wherein the sidebolster panel is hingedly connected to each opposite lateral side of therigid seat cushion frame.
 13. The seat assembly of claim 12 wherein thecam mechanism is pivotally coupled to each lateral side of the rigidseat cushion frame behind each side bolster panel midway betweenopposite end of the side bolster panel.
 14. The seat assembly of claim13 wherein the cam mechanism comprises a post pivotally connected to andlaterally projecting from the rigid seat cushion frame, and a cam lobeextending from the post for engagement with the side bolster panel. 15.The seat assembly of claim 14 including a push-pull cable connectedbetween the post and the recliner mechanism.
 16. The seat assembly ofclaim 15 including an arcuate cable guide associated with the reclinermechanism for winding the cable about the recliner mechanism.
 17. Theseat assembly of claim 16 wherein the cam lobe is pressed against theside bolster panel for maintaining the side bolster panel in the flexedposition when the seat assembly is in the seated position, and whereinthe cable winds about the cable guide to rotate the cam lobe away fromthe side bolster panel for maintaining the side bolster panel in therelaxed position when the seat assembly is in the fold flat position.18. The seat assembly of claim 1 further including a headrest assemblyoperatively coupled to an upper distal end of the seat back and pivotalbetween a generally upright use position and a stowed position.
 19. Theseat assembly of claim 18 wherein the headrest assembly comprises a pairof guide posts pivotally coupled to a tube rotatably journaled to a topportion of a seat back frame by a bearing sleeve.
 20. The seat assemblyof claim 19 including a spring connected to the seat back frame and thetube for biasing the headrest assembly to the stowed position.
 21. Theseat assembly of claim 20 including a disk recliner clutch connected tothe tube for releasing the headrest assembly for pivotal movement fromthe upright use position to the stowed position.
 22. The seat assemblyof claim 21 including a cable connected between the disk recliner clutchand a recliner mechanism pivotally coupling the seat back and seatcushions.
 23. The seat assembly of claim 22 wherein the cable pulls andreleases the disk recliner clutch such that the spring automaticallypivots the headrest assembly to the stowed position when the seat backis pivoted from the seating position to the fold flat position.